GUIDED KEEPER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR METAL FORMING DIES

摘要

A guided keeper assembly and related method includes a cylindrical base that mounts to a die member using a multi-piece, interlocking flange. The flanges have outer fastener holes and inner arcuate walls that matingly engage a complimentary profile on the outer surface of the base to axially interconnect the same. The flanges also have male and female end connectors which snap lock together around the base in an assembled condition. Mounting screws pass through the fastener holes in the flanges and are anchored in the die member to securely retain the guided keeper assembly in place. A retainer ring is mounted in an associated groove in the base over the heads of the screws to prevent unintentional unfastening of the screws from the die member.

主权项

1. In a metal forming die having first and second die members mounted a spaced apart distance for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, the improvement of a guided keeper assembly, comprising:
a base having:
a generally cylindrically shaped, body with an outside wall portion, first and second oppositely disposed end portions, and a central portion with a central aperture extending axially therethrough;a retainer ring groove in said outside wall portion and disposed axially between said first and second end portions; anda mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion; a two-piece, interlocking mounting flange, including:
a first flange member having a width that is substantially the same as the width of said mounting flange groove, at least one through hole for attaching said first flange member to said first die member, a mounting flange groove profile which matingly engages half of said mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion of said base and axially interconnects said base and said first flange member, and first and second end connectors; anda second flange member that is identical to said first flange member having at least one through hole for attaching said second flange member to said first die member, a mounting flange groove profile which matingly engages half of said mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion of said base and axially interconnects said base and said second flange member, and third and fourth end connectors which securely, yet detachably lock with said first and second end connectors on said first flange member to laterally interconnect said first and second flange members with and about said base in an assembled condition to facilitate installing the same in said first die member, wherein when said first and second flange members are interconnected, said mounting flange grooves keep said first and second flange members aligned; a guide pin having:
a cylindrically shaped central portion closely received in said central aperture in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between said first and second die members;a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between said first and second die members; anda second end, positioned generally opposite said first end, and having a locator portion that engages said second die member, and precisely locates said second end of said guide pin on said second die member; fasteners extending through said through holes in said first and second flange members and being anchored in said first die member; and a retainer ring detachably received and securely retained in said retainer ring groove in said base, and having an interior face disposed over at least a portion of said fasteners, whereby engagement between said fasteners and said retainer ring positively prevents said fasteners from unintentionally unfastening from said first die member.